Circumferential ablation device assembly
First Claim
1. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrthmia in a patient, comprising:
- a circumferential ablation member which is adapted to be delivered to a position relative to a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium in the patient, the circumferential ablation member having an ablation element which is adapted to ablate a substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue without delivery of an ablative fluid to the tissue.
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Abstract
This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. The equatorial band has a length relative to the longitudinal axis of the expandable member that is narrow relative to the working length, and is also substantially shorter than its circumference when the working length is in the radially expanded position. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described. The expandable member is also adapted to conform to the pulmonary vein in the region of its ostium, such as by providing a great deal of radial compliance or by providing a taper along the working length which has a distally reducing outer diameter. A linear ablation element is provided adjacent to the circumferential ablation element in a combination assembly which is adapted for use in a less-invasive “maze”-type procedure in the region of the pulmonary vein ostia in the left ventricle.
777 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrthmia in a patient, comprising:
a circumferential ablation member which is adapted to be delivered to a position relative to a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium in the patient, the circumferential ablation member having an ablation element which is adapted to ablate a substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue without delivery of an ablative fluid to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for treating atrial arrhythmia in a patient, comprising:
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delivering an ablation element within an epicardial space adjacent to a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a single pulmonary vein extends from an atrium in the patient; and
ablating a substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue with the ablation element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
ablating the circumferential region of tissue while surrounding the circumferential region of tissue with the ablation element within the epicardial space while actuating the ablation element with an ablation actuator.
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19. The method of claim 12, wherein the circumferential region of tissue has a circumference, and further comprising ablating the circumferential region of tissue by translating the ablation element along the circumference while actuating the ablation element by an ablation actuator.
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20. The method of claim 12, wherein the circumferential region of tissue has a circumference, and further comprising ablating the circumferential region of tissue along the entire circumference with the ablation element.
Specification